At Home in the Huddle 2013

It's Garbage Day.

37.8 degrees and overcast at 6:30 a.m.

The YNN Weather Forecast: 

"Chilly and Breezy, Turning Warmer Mid-Week

Today will be another windy, cool day around the region. Wind chills will be in the 30s and 40s throughout the day.

Tonight will be precipitation free, but with a clearing skies, and lighter winds, frost will once again be possible.

We'll see dry weather, and slightly warmer temperatures on Tuesday. Highs in the upper 50s and 60s.

Warmer air builds in with a warm front Wednesday, but showers will also be possible. A cool front will track through the region Thursday bringing an additional threat for showers.

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IN THE NEWS

"Waterville Posts Top Score......"

The Little Falls Times

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Yesterday

Someone - but I don't know who - is doing a great deal of work stabilizing old gravestones in the Hanover Cemetery.

Nor do I know why these Canada Geese, residents of the amply large and very sightly pond behind the Moon residence on Madison Street, would decide to take a Sunday afternoon stroll to the muddy, weedy swale next to the road!

Late afternoon hail storm on the southern end of Bailey Lake Road. This was not on the calendar for Mother's Day.

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"Eye Candy"  - of one sort!

Apple Blossoms

Flowering Crab

Flowering Quince

Wild Geranium /  Cranesbill.

Virginia Bluebells

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SCHEDULED EVENTS

WCS SPORTS

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BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

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TUESDAY

At the Library

Knit2gether at 7:00 p.m.

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ANNOUNCEMENT

  All veterans interested in attending 

please contact the MPS office by Friday, May 18^th 

at 841-3700.

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ROTARY CLUB AUCTION

If you want to donate items,

Please call Scott Freeman at  841-4175 to arrange for pick-up.

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IN THE MAIL

- from Dave Sullivan

"On Earth Day 2013 a group of volunteers from Rome and Cazenovia College helped clean trash and brush from around the O&W TRain Depot in Deansboro.

"As a part of the Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful regional project, a grant for the repair and restoration of “The Depot”,  Deansboro’s historic train station, is in its early stages. We are unsure if this will materialize. 

“The Depot” is probably the oldest surviving station in Oneida County, and is listed on the National Historic Register.

"Its last rail owner was the O & W, which hauled freight and some passengers between Utica and Binghamton. In the 1950’s rail services went out.  Until the Brothertown (Association) bought it, The Depot had been converted to a hardware store. Now it is owned by the Brothertown Association, a 501©(3) charity, its restoration process continues with the help of the whole community.

"An early grant from Albany probably saved The Depot from collapse: a new roof has prevented further deterioration.

Re-awakened interest in Albany in stimulating upstate’s economy, our region identified The Depot as a candidate for funding. Brothertown is working with a regional coordinator to bring some of that “stimulus” to Marshall and the focus fell on The Depot.

On Sunday April 21 the volunteers came and helped and accomplished  way more than expected. The goal was to restore the south end of The Depot where the major support beam had been cracked and rotted. Twenty-four feet long and more than 10 by 10, the crew worked under the coordination and direction of Association President, Maury Sturdevant to lift the building and to build supporting pylons before the new beam could be put in place. Member Steve Aldrich obtained and provided the 20 ton bottle jacks to do the lift, and Ed Bishopp, local businessman, donated the beam—itself an historic piece: it bears the marks of the axes and adzes that cut and shaped it.

With the help of the volunteer crew, The Depots east side was completely cleared of rotted construction debris, accumulated road trash and debris, years of saplings, brush and weedy growth.

A “bonus” in the days efforts came under the leadership of Dave Sullivan, a local businessman. The warehouse structure that serviced The Depot had been vandalized and the top of an historic hop stove stolen. Dave’s crew completely cleared the warehouse and its grounds of more than twenty years wild growth, brush, saplings and small trees that were felled and awaiting green waste removal. “Treasures” of road trash tossed by road users are gone and the foundation areas next to The Depot look ready to provide the base for a new and more secure location for that warehouse.

Funding for the next stage—moving the warehouse and installing power and water to the buildings is in grant application process. Some $10,000.00 is needed to complete it, and Brothertown is anxiously awaiting approval for funding, or any part of it, from Albany.

The Train Depot is looking for any Railroad related memorabilia. The names of the donors will be placed with the display of pictures. Items also of interest would be any history with regards to the canal and train depot.

The Depot is the trail head to the towpath walking trail. If you haven’t walked this you don’t know what you are missing. 
The long term plan for The Depot is 1^st to preserve structure for future generations to enjoy. The trail currently runs to Van Hyning Rd and past. Future plans are to extend it to Clinton.

The Brothertown Association owns The Depot. We are a 501 (c) (3)  charity. All donations are tax deductable. The estimated cost is over $100,000.00. Any and all donations would be appreciated. Please send any donations to Ed Bishopp at 2805 Rt 12B Deansboro, NY 13328

We are also looking for new members willing to work and contribute to restore the historic structure in a reasonable time frame. This is an urgent project worth the community's effort. Membership dues are as follows:

Passenger membership: $25.00

Conductor membership: $50.00

Fireman membership: $100.00

Engineer membership: $200.00

Thank you very much.  (Signed, Dave Sullivan and Betty Hughes)

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I'm sure you've noticed that this is a two-day blog post. Unless someone or something gets my attention, I'll be immersed in either history, closet- and studio-cleaning or artist stuff.

N.B. In just a few weeks "At Home in the Huddle" will mark the end of it's seventh year - or "a week of years."  Traditionally, at that point, academicians are granted a year off (with pay) to take a sabbatical leave. I'm certainly not an academician, but I am seriously considering giving myself a three-month "sabbatical" during June, July and August.   So many places to go, people to see and projects - both new and old - to either start or finish! 

In academia, there is always a replacement ready to step in - in this case it would be a substitute "blogger."   It could be an individual or even a team effort.  If any of you find the notion of "blogging" intriguing or can suggest a means by which the six- or seven-hundred daily blog readers can be satisfied, please let me know. 

Enjoy the Springtime!